Safety · Kelowna & area
I smell gas. What do I do?
If you smell gas now
- Don't flip switches, use your phone inside or light anything.
- Leave the house, leaving the door open behind you, and get well away from it.
- From outside, call FortisBC's emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 or 911.
- Don't go back inside until FortisBC or the fire department says it is safe.
When it is safe, call us to find and fix the cause.
Anderson Plumbing and Gas Fitting · owner-operated · last updated
Quick answer
If you smell gas, leave right away and call FortisBC's 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 (or your propane supplier) or 911 from outside. Then call us for the repair.
What a gas leak smells like
A gas leak smells like rotten eggs, because FortisBC adds that odour to natural gas (which has no smell on its own) specifically so a leak is noticeable. Trust your nose; if something smells like gas, treat it as one. A hissing sound near a gas line or appliance can also mean a leak, so don't rely on smell alone.
What to do, and what not to do
Don't flip light switches, use your phone inside, light a match, or do anything that could create a spark. Leave the house or building, and once you're safely outside and away from it, call FortisBC's 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911, or 911.
Who repairs the leak afterwards
Once the gas utility or fire department has confirmed it's safe, the repair depends on where the leak is. If it is at the meter or the service line outside, FortisBC repairs it. Leaks in the piping and appliances inside your home (finding and fixing them, and pressure-testing the line before gas goes back on) need a licensed gas contractor. Gas work in BC is done under a gas permit, and finding a leak is not a job to take on yourself.
We find and fix gas leaks at appliance connections, valves and piping, then pressure-test the repair before anything is reconnected, under Technical Safety BC licence LGA0212697.
Need this done?
See our Licensed gas fitting page for the full details, or call (250) 859-3548.
Questions, answered
Why does natural gas smell like rotten eggs?
Natural gas has no smell on its own; FortisBC adds that odour deliberately so a leak is noticeable before it becomes dangerous.
Should I try to find the leak myself?
No. Leave the area first. Finding and fixing a gas leak safely needs a licensed gas contractor with the right equipment, and the line has to be pressure-tested before it's used again.
What if I just smell gas faintly near an appliance, not the whole house?
Still leave and call it in from outside. A faint smell near one appliance can mean a small leak at a connection, which still needs the same response.
Do you repair gas leaks at night?
We're open 24/7. Once FortisBC or the fire department has made it safe, call us; when we talk, we tell you honestly when we can be there. We pull the permit for the repair.
Sources
The public records behind the local facts on this page.
Get an honest answer and a fair, upfront price
We are open 24/7 and tell you honestly when we can be there. You get the price before any work starts.